Man's passion for collecting was ignited almost from the very date that the first stamp was issued. This passion has grown through the years into a strong global market to be reckoned with.

1840

The first stamp - the Penny Black - is issued.

1850s

Postage stamp and stationery collecting begins.

1860 - 70

The first collections are exhibited.

1890s

Stamp collecting evolves into an respected discipline known as Philately.

Early 1900s

Stamp Exhibitions gain popularity, particularly in Europe.

1910s

The rise in the use of postcards and the emergence of pictorial stamps leads to the beginnings of Maximaphily.

1920s

The International Federation of Philately (FIP) begins to grant Patronage and Auspices to stamp shows and exhibitions in Europe, taking the hobby to a new professional level.

The new flying machines stimulate Aerophilately.

The first International Stamp Dealers Association is founded.

1930s

There is more and more interest in stamp varieties, watermarks, perforations, papers, printings etc. Postal History and the study of postmarks begin to emerge as a serious collecting discipline.

Late 1940s

Thematic philately begins to grow and develop beyond mere subject collections of stamps.

1960s

FIP begins to grow rapidly and expand beyond Europe and the Americas.

1970s

Philatelic classes, or areas of collecting interest, begin to emerge as separate competitive disciplines.

1980s

The current competitive classes are established.

Exponential growth of philately in Asia.

1990s

Emergence of two new classes of Philately - Revenues and experimental Social Philately.

FIP continues to grow and the number of world exhibitions continues to rise.

2001

Financial Philately emerges as a discipline to harness the investment potential of stamps.